1.) Qualifications: Tournaments are open to anyone over 18 years of age. If under 18 years of age you must be accompanied by someone over 18 years old. Individuals who have fished in more than 3 tournaments in the last 12 months that required an entry fee of $1,000 or more then you are not eligible to fish in any Heartland Anglers Tournaments. Anyone who has been on Pro status (FLW, BASS, PAA or Professional Guide) must be cleared by the Heartland Leadership team prior to being able to fish. This Tournament Circuit is Designed for the Average Weekend Tournament Fisherman.

2.) Heartland Anglers Classic: You must be a current paid-in-full member in Heartland Anglers in order to qualify for the National Classic. Yearly Membership is $35.00 per calendar year. This allows you to fish all divisions in all states.

3.) Substitutes: All subs must be a member of Heartland Anglers for that current year. To compete in the Classic he or she must be qualified in order to fish.

4.) Classic Tournament Entry Fee: 100% of this money will be paid back. There will be a mandatory $160.00 per team classic entry fee.

5.) To qualify for the Classic: You must fish 4 out of 6 tournaments in your circuit or 6 tournaments total at any division. A team may buy into one tournament to qualify for the Classic.

6.) Bass Limit: This will be a five (5) fish-limit tournament (Per team or when fishing alone). Exceptions: State laws will prevail when fishing on any body of water (size and limit). Directors discretion on spotted bass for size limit and species. Anyone bringing in more than five fish will have their sack culled to the five-fish limit starting with the big fish first. All culling must be done before coming to weigh in site prior to trailering and prior to no wake area.

7.) Sportsmanship: All contestants are required to follow high standards of sportsmanship, courtesy and conservation.

You may not fish closer than 50 yards to another competitor unless given permission.

8.) No Live Bait: Only artificial lures can be used in all tournaments. The use of pork rine is permitted.

9.) No Trolling: Anyone found to be doing this will be disqualified from any and all Heartland Anglers Tournaments.

10. ) Long Lining: You may not use you big motor to fish this technique. All long lining must be done with your trolling motor.

11.) Short Fish Penalties: All fish brought to weigh-in must be of legal size determined by the Directors or by state law for that body of water fished, Penalty is loss of small fish and your largest fish. (Use Golden Rule)

12.) Dead Fish: (1 Dead Fish may be weighed. Penalty is loss of 1lb and you can’t weigh it for Lunker)

13.) Mangled Fish: Fish that appear to be altered or mangled will only be weighed at the discretion of local director.

14.) Late Weigh-In: There will be a deduction of 1 lb. per minute off your total weight for every minute late to weigh in. After 10 minutes, your team is disqualified.

15.)Locking Through: At your own risk

16.) Alcoholic beverages or drug use: The use of alcoholic beverages or Illegal drugs during tournament hours. (Including before and after weigh-in) (Will be cause for Immediate Disqualification from any and all Heartland Anglers Tournaments.)

17.) Registration: There will be registration at the tournament site the morning of the tournament; blast-off time will be set by local director. By arriving early to ramp, and getting signed up and in the water, we will save time at the ramp!

18.) Blast Off: Blast off position will be determined by draw or registration. There will be no Shot-Gun starts.

19.) Boat Inspection: All live wells will be checked by directors either prior to the start of tournament or during Blast off...

20.) Safety: During all tournaments, contestants will wear their life Jackets, zipped and Kill cord connected any time when boat is in motion. During foul weather you may take closest shelter. During any emergency you must return to tournament site if possible. You may not leave your boat during tournament hours except during an Emergency. If you must leave the boat for any reason other than emergency you must notify the Tournament Director before doing so.

21. Catch and Release: Heartland Anglers is 100% catch and release. All live fish must be returned to the water that they were taken from. (If there is a Lunker fish then an angler may keep it for mounting).

22.) Cheating: Anyone caught cheating in Any Tournament event will be immediately barred from fishing in any Heartland Anglers Tournament. And all other Tournament Trails will be notified.

23.) Off-Limits: There will not be an Off-Limits during the year. At Classic there will be a cut off the day before at 4:00pm

24.) Protest: All protests must be submitted in writing to tournament directors no later than 15 minutes after close of weigh-in. Verbal protests will not be accepted.

25.) Insurance: All members need to carry liability insurance on any boat they might use during any Heartland Anglers Tournament. Failure to do so or reporting of false information will result in disqualification. Participants must include the company name and either the policy number or the name of the agent binding the coverage on the membership form.

26.) Polygraph: Any Member at Anytime. Will be given a polygraph test in the event an agreement can’t be made by the Management of Heartland Anglers. (This will include any and all people affiliated with Heartland Anglers in Anyway

27.) State Law: Anything not covered above refer to you state fish and game rules and guidelines.

A RIG Illegal States:

· Tennessee (No wire restrictions No Dummy restrictions but you may only use 3 hooks)